2011: Kinsmen rally support for Jonathan

By Samuel Oyadongha
President Goodluck Jonathan’s kinsmen in Bayelsa State, have pledged to mobilise and enlighten the electorate on the need to return him to office, come 2011.

Those who volunteered to lead the enlightenment campaign on why he should be returned to office to continue the good work of turning around the fortunes of the country, include Mrs. Augusta Dafa, aged 82 and Chief Iberirai Ikpokpo Dede, aged 101 years old.

Also, the Ogbia Council of Chiefs said they would mobilize and enlighten the public on the need to vote their son into power in 2011.

The President’s kinsmen stated this at the flag-off of the awareness campaign on the voters registration exercise in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, organised by the Ogbia Study Group, a socio- political organisation, when the latter paid a visit to the Palace of Chief Dogood Omiloli in the area.

Speaking at the event, Chairman, Ogbia Council of Chiefs, HRH Dogood Omiloli, said the council of chiefs and the entire people of Ogbia clan, including youths and aged persons would rally support for President Jonathan to emerge victorious in the 2011 polls.

The monarch who described President Jonathan as humble and God fearing said, his subjects would vote massively for him come 2011 even as called on eligible Nigerians to register for the forthcoming voters’ registration exercise to enable them cast their votes to a God fearing leader.

Chief Omiloli said “a victory for President Jonathan come 2011 election is a victory for all Nigeria, irrespective of culture and religion,” and commended the Study Group for enlightening and mobilizing the electorate on the exercise and appeal to them to vote Mr. President into power in the 2011 polls.

Earlier, Chancellor of the group, Mr. Adike Kopiam said the objective of the exercise was to sensitize, enlighten and mobilize the people towards the oncoming voter’s registration exercise bill for January 2011.

Kopiam said, “we came to encourage you to register and also appeal that you convince your families. Subjects those are eligible to vote to get registered and collectively vote our leader, President Jonathan into power come 2011 polls.”

The group, Kopiam said believes that the time for social transformation is now and has resolved to canvass votes for President Jonathan based on the commitment and dedication he has demonstrated while in office.

Kopiam said his association is a human resource development body designed as a receptacle for articulate and promote communalization and intellectualism in Ogbia clan.

He lauded the President for repositioning the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC by appointing Prof Attahiru Jega as chairman to ensure a free and fair 2011 polls and the aggressive attention given to the power sector in the country.

In their remarks Mrs. Augusta Dafa and Chief Ikpokpo Dede said they would vote Mr. President in 2011 election.

The President whom they noted worshipped with them at St Paul Anglican Church Ogbia had impacted positively in their lives and had on several occasions brought gifts for them whenever he returns home.

They expressed confidence that if voted into power, he would transform the economy, power, hospital, education and security challenges facing the country.